The nominees for Australian fashion’s most prestigious award, the Australian Fashion Laureate, are in.

Selected for their work promoting and advancing the Australian fashion industry internationally, the 2015 finalists include Alex Perry, Nicholas Huxley, Nancy Pilcher, Toni Maticevski, Jarrad Clark and Camilla and Marc’s Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman.

The nominees represent excellence across fields including publishing, production, education and design.

Emily Weight, Director of Strategy and Brand for IMG Fashion, said in a news release, “Each nominee has played a unique part in the incredible global success of the Australian fashion industry, and continue to be the driving forces.”

“They each have shaped many iconic moments in the history of Australian fashion, but just as importantly, play key roles in its future direction.”

“It is an absolute honour to be highlighting their contribution via this important award.”

Since the award was established in 2007, winners have included esteemed fashion figures Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, Collette Dinnigan, Carla Zampatti, Akira Isogawa, Easton and Lydia Perason, Jenny Kee and the founder of MBFWA in 1996, Simon Lock.

The winner of the Australian Fashion Laureate receives a hand-crafted statuette designed by Aussie designer Jan Logan (think of it like the Oscars for down-under fashion) and there will also be awards for additional categories including womenswear, menswear, retailer and emerging designer. The presentation will be held at MBFWA during April 12-16.

Chantelle Schmidt is theFashionSpot’s Australian contributor and lives in Sydney. She has worked in fashion, beauty and lifestyle PR and across a range of leading fashion and celebrity magazines. Her weaknesses include culling her ever-growing wardrobe and walking away from a thrift store empty-handed.